Only God Forgives Takes Out Top Honors At Sydney Film Festival

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling and Kristin Scott Thomas, ONLY GOD FORGIVES has been awarded the Sydney Film Prize at the 2013 Sydney Film Festival.

Following its world premiere at Cannes, this daring piece of cinema has continued to provoke debate amongst critics and filmgoers.  After much discussion, the SFF jury united in their decision to recognise the movie with this prestigious award.

Releasing in cinemas on July 18, the film is the second collaboration between its director and star who first worked together on 2011’s Drive.  It is also the second time the festival has recognised Winding Refn’s work (Bronson won the competition here in 2009).

Pleased with news of the film’s win, Nicolas Winding Refn commented, “I am very honoured and extremely excited to have received this honourable award from a country that, in my opinion, has one of the great film histories of the world.”  The writer/director has previously described his movie as, “a stream of consciousness… based on real emotions but set in a heightened reality.”

The stylish revenge thriller stars Ryan Gosling as Julian, who runs a boxing club in Bangkok as a front for his family drug business.  When his brother savagely murders a young prostitute, he is killed as retribution.  The matriarch of the family – and of the criminal organisation – Crystal, arrives to retrieve her son’s body.  Crazy with rage and thirsty for vengeance, she demands that Julian brings the heads of those responsible.  To do so he must face both the local figurehead of divine justice and his own personal demons.

Kristin Scott Thomas gives a chilling and abrasive powerhouse performance as Crystal, with standout dialogue that the actress has commented took her several takes to say.  Conversely, the withdrawn and tortured nature of Julian is brilliantly communicated by Gosling without the aid of much dialogue.  The film’s mood is further enhanced by the mesmerising Cliff Martinez soundtrack.

Icon CEO, Greg Hughes thanked the Sydney Film Festival for the award and for their continued support of “bold and visionary filmmakers like Nicolas Winding Refn”.  He further stated, “Icon is proud to be bringing ONLY GOD FORGIVES to Australian and New Zealand audiences.”

ONLY GOD FORGIVES will release In Cinemas July 18
Releasing on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital on November 20